Every few years within the home construction market, trends change.From popular paint colors to choosing vinyl over tile, occasionally there is a shift in what the consumer is looking for when it comes to selecting the design elements within their new home.This year Brass is back – If you can think back over a century ago, maybe even a few centuries, Brass was a popular choice when it came to lighting fixtures, door hardware and most of the metal trimmed products within the home.A cycle of phasing out the brass and bringing in new finishes like satin nickel or brushed bronze became popular selections within the market a few decades ago and now, as a new generation is helping define the ins and outs of what constitutes comfort within new homes, brass is a returning factor.

Brass today comes in many different finishes and styles and it is making a comeback from tabletop décor, light fixtures, drawer pulls and more.Today’s brass within the home may not have quite the shine as the previous trendy home accents.Many people are reaching out to place brushed brass or true vintage fixtures within their home to bring in a certain old world feel to their farm house floor plan or just add some warmth to their new custom home.

Some things never go out of style, and for the items that do – they typically come back into style at some point!A great way to find vintage fixtures is to keep an eye out for people who are updating their homes built in the 40s, 50s and 60s.A lot of Spanish brass light fixtures made it over to America after WWII and many people may not fully understand what that vintage brass light fixture may be worth.

Another place to look for these “come back” fixtures and décor items is through estate sales and possibly even making a visit to your grandparent’s house.Brass was a big deal several decades ago and although some new styles of brass décor are being made available in the design world, you are sure to find some more heavy duty vintage looking pieces if you take the time to look.

It’s a bit hard to believe that this once popular finish is making a comeback, but surely brass will warm up the interiors of our homes and once again we will enjoy a classic return of style. For a few options, check out wayfair.com or companies like fourteenthcolonylighting.com. where you are sure to find some nice brass additions for your new home.

To learn more about brass options you may want to incorporate into your new floor plan visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com

With a growing market of Millennials considering purchasing homes for the first time, there are a few obstacles in their way.It is no surprise the economic recession, nearly a decade ago, impacted the housing market on a huge scale.For several years construction halted, mortgage laws fluctuated, builders were put out of business and as a result the inventory of homes slowed down.

For the most part our country is currently in a healing phase and more construction is taking place to fill the needs of the next generation looking for home ownership.

Within the group of millennials, more families are beginning and ready to search for their new custom homes, while there is also a large percentage of single millennials looking for homes, and because of inventory and other factors, in some cases it may prove more financially feasible to rent than to purchase a home.The price of homes continues to rise and has been on an upswing for the past few years, this is resulting in many people looking for nice homes within good school districts they can rent and as a result many builders are moving away from building apartments and instead focusing on building homes or refurbishing homes to rent out.

In some areas of the country, neighborhoods designed to meet the needs of renters are popping up and companies like American Homes 4 Rent are setting the stage to fill the gaps for homeownership by developing full neighborhoods of rentable homes as an alternative to the apartment lifestyle.

Because of the current proposed tax bill changes, mortgage interest deductions and property tax deductions are just a few ways that lives and the way they are maintained is being changed.Homebuyers need to be aware of these new changes so they are protecting their investment while still able to maintain the lifestyle they choose to live.The good news is that interest rates are still hovering below 5% and this helps with the overall monthly payments people are looking to fit within their budget.

Home ownership is still the way to go for many single and millennial families and making sure your investment is protected in a market that is ever-changing is an important factor to consider when planning to build your custom home.Understanding these obstacles and learning to maneuver around them to gain home ownership is achievable.

Discussing options with your builder to help you secure a piece of the American Dream and provide a home for you and your family to enjoy for years to come can start with a simple plan search, finding the perfect plan for your dreams.

To learn more about obstacles millennials are facing in today’s housing market and create a plan for homeownership, visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com

It’s quite common to find a dehumidifier within the home of someone who has allergies, but if you aren’t sure what a dehumidifier is and how it can benefit you within your home, let’s take a look.In the simplest terms a dehumidifier is a device designed to remove excess moisture from the air.Many people are sensitive to mold spores and dust mites and by reducing the humidity levels within the home the environment becomes less hospitable to allergens such as these.

Many designs are very quiet and do not interfere with your everyday home life. Simply place it within any area of your home, plug it in and enjoy the quality of air.Dehumidifiers are also good for reducing odors associated with mold or musty smells.If you ever encounter a leak within your basement, or other area of your home, the first thing you may want to do is install a dehumidifier.Many people with basements, both conditioned and unfinished, keep dehumidifiers running to avoid these pesky odors.

Allergens within the air can cause skin irritations or respiratory issues, especially for those who are more sensitive.Utilizing the dehumidifier should reduce these symptoms and allow for a more comfortable living environment.

Depending on the amount of moisture within the air of your home, you may notice items like cereals or breads and chips becoming stale quicker, this is another benefit to adding a dehumidifier to your home.We all want our food to last the shelf life or longer, so this is a good suggestion if you are experiencing these issues.

Besides the benefits we have already addressed, one of the most effective functions of a dehumidifier is how this system can actually allow your HVAC system to run more efficient.There are plenty of High efficiency hvac systems available, however if the air within your home is more humid, the hvac system has to work overtime to try and reduce the temperature of the air in order to remove moisture, and this can overwork your air unit.HVAC systems can be costly to repair, so if you notice a high level of humidity within your home, you may want to consider adding a dehumidifier to help with the longevity of your system.

There are plenty of reasons to consider adding a dehumidifier within your home and a great place to find the perfect one for you and your family may be consumerreports.org.They offer extensive buyers guides to help you choose the right machine to add to your home.

For more information regarding incorporating dehumidifiers within your home or learning about other options you may benefit from when building your home, please visit AmericasHomePlace.com

The American Dream of homeownership is still alive and well for many people across the country. Each year a new group of potential homebuyers enter the market and the excitement of owning their own home begins to blossom. Understanding what it means to own a home, the finances involved and all of the added expenses that come along with home ownership can sometimes be surprising, and being prepared and budgeting for the right home is a great place to begin. Many people start looking for houses, then once they find the one they love, they will try to get approved.It’s actually a better idea to get prequalified for a mortgage so you understand which houses will fit within your family budget.Once you have the pre-qualification you will be able to look for a house or land where you can build a custom home.

Working with a mortgage banker, like those at Hamilton State Bank, will allow you the ability to know what will work with your budget, and they will also assist you with any information you may need to know about down payment requirements and match you with the best loan options available.Some homebuyers will qualify for USDA or VA loans, which provide 100% financing with no down payments, and others may qualify for FHA loans, which may provide a better interest rate than conventional financing depending on your credit rating.FHA loans are generally granted to those whose credit ratings are below 660.An FHA loan may also offer you the option to pay a 3.5% down payment, and in some states grants and other down payment assistance may be available.

Although the average sales price of a home is on the rise, other fees including mortgage insurance rates have seen a reduction in the past couple of years.With interest rates still hovering below 5%, new buyers have the advantage of lower payments and ultimately more buying power.At times there are issues with credit repair that need to be addressed prior to being qualified for a mortgage and with newregulations in place some lenders allow non-occupying co-buyers to assist during the qualification process, should it be necessary to secure your loan.

If you already own your land, you may have other options available to assist you with the down payment.The process and amount allowed varies among lenders, however in some cases you may be able to allow your land equity to qualify as your down payment, and no worries if the equity doesn’t cover the full down payment you can still use the portion it will qualify for, thus reducing the amount of out-of-pocket funds you will be required to provide at closing.

For more information about being pre-qualified or learning about your finance options, visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com

As Summer approaches many people will be thinking about children being out of school, planning summer vacations and camps and looking for ways to enjoy the warm summer months.Gearing up for the summer season is always fun, but there are a few things you may want to do in order to have a good summer season.

In regards to your home, it may be time to change your air filters, also have your HVAC system checked early in the season to keep from running into problems or waking up in the middle of summer to a unit that isn’t working properly.During the summer months HVAC companies can become back logged and it may take a few days to get someone out to your house – so be proactive about your home maintenance.You will also want to make sure your gutters are cleaned out so as the spring and summer rains come in you don’t encounter unwanted leaks or puddles in your landscaping.To avoid excessive mosquitoes, make sure empty flowerpots or other pails, tubs or outdoor accessories are turned upside down to keep from retaining water and creating a mosquito breeding ground!

Summertime can also bring about unwanted pests like wasps.As you get your home ready for the summer season, go ahead and walk around your home and remove any wasp nests that may be hiding between fence posts or under the eaves of your home.This is also a good time to update your pest control contract, or find organic ways to deter spiders and other creepy crawlies from nesting around your living space.

For your everyday ventures, make sure you have plenty of water around the house for kids to drink and encourage them to make some homemade popsicles or frozen grapes to snack on.Making sure you have sunscreen on hand is also a great way to ensure you and your kids are enjoying summer safely.

For those of you who may live in a coastal area, review your hurricane preparedness plan and make sure you have the items recommended for a safe summer season.

Before you run out and gas up the boat and gear up for all the family fun summer months can bring, make sure you take the time to address your home maintenance needs and put a little preparedness into your summer planning.

It’s always exciting to see the next level of ingenuity when it comes to technology and how it affects our home designs. With Amazon’s Echo dot, Alexa and Google Home units we are now open to many possibilities of listening to our favorite music on a voice command in addition to requesting our wireless devices to dim the lights, turn on televisions or access data to keep us on track for our daily schedules.

There are many types of systems available and devices that will allow our home to become, what we thought of as children, as the home of the future. Wireless networking systems can be set up for game consoles and computers, printers as well as many compatible devices within our homes. It is amazing to see all of the available options, which is in a continual growth pattern.

Many people opt for the wireless option when it comes to networking throughout the home. There are several different ways this can be established and the functionality and safety of systems will determine your choice for using a wireless gateway or choosing to stay hardwired to everything.

If you aren’t sold on the complete wireless networking home system, then adapt with a few smaller systems like Ring for your front door bell or a wireless home security system. In a world where it seems like knowledge is at our fingertips and hackers are on the rise it can be a tough decision to release the standard mode of home wiring to a new way of living.

Wireless networking systems are designed to work off of multiple computers or devices allowing for a cleaner look, and less wires! Obviously many of the wireless devices we use today still have a power source plugged in somewhere but overall it is nice to have fewer cables running everywhere.

The time to discuss integrating a wireless networking system and adding home components within your new custom home is at the planning stage. As you find the floor plan you like, make notes of where you would like to add these features and have your builder review economical options for you and your family. You may not be aware of some of the options you could really benefit from, and your builder will be able to make suggestions for these desired features and available options.

As with any wireless system, you want to ensure you take good security measures to keep intruders out. Encryption, as well as utilizing other software can be a good option to consider.

To learn more about wireless networking options available for your new home visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com

Gardens have certainly evolved over the past 50 years.At one point the garden was simply a resource for food, and was related more to work, than to pleasure.These days the garden is a form of relaxation and peace for many individuals that live an active life, or have a demanding job.The garden is good medicine to many of us, with many benefits, from food to color.

In the large spectrum of gardens, one feature that is becoming more and more popular is color blocking, and color planning.This is the placement of certain flowering plants so that as the flowers are in bloom a colorful splash of patterns and intentional design is noticed by any admirer.Color blocking is placement of colors designed to compliment each other in close proximity, while adding other color blocks intermittent within the garden as enhancements.

Many gardens have been blocked to resemble a rainbow, or maybe even a flag.A strategic placement of red, white and blue can make any outside garden adventure seem more patriotic.Along with Color Blocking, people are using these flowers for natural pest repellents and for fragrance at certain areas within the year.

These beautiful and bright colors usually attract an array of insects, including bees.Having bees come to the garden should always be a goal of any good gardener because of their help with pollination, and insect control.Wasp also come into the garden and helps protect against some of the unwanted pests.Certain colors attract certain insects and animals.

With Color Blocking people can strategically place these flowering plants so their entire planting season is colorful.While one flower starts to fade with warm weather, another will be getting started.As the warm weather flowers start to fade with cooler weather, even another can get started.This helps keep the beauty of your garden alive and well through spring, summer and fall.

When we choose to Color Block our garden we just need to make sure we plan things properly.Some plants do not get along well with others, and some plants can even cause problems with the fruit and veggies within the garden (if there are any).By doing a little homework, and placing these plants at the right place, we will set ourselves up to enjoy a beautiful garden all season long.

To learn more about custom homes and how you can incorporate color blocking into your outdoor gardens visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com

Have you ever been in a Neoclassical home and enjoyed the open kitchen design and diner style checkered black and white flooring? This is a classic look and as we see more and more people looking to dress up their home interior, the black and white combination is on the rise.

Designing with black and white throughout your home or in themed areas of your home will bring a unique flair to the style you are creating in your new home.

Obviously the floor tiles add a solid foundation to a kitchen or other room, you can also choose this scheme in a complementary kitchen design, mix-matching cabinets and bringing in a custom marble or black granite countertop.

In your main living space you might consider painting your custom built-ins black and let the fire place mantles pop with a matte white finish.Another nice look is adding a dark stain or black paint to stair treads and painting the risers white.If these options seem to bold for your style, you can always decorate with black and white home décor like lamps, vases and other decorative accents to bring in this classic flair.

Popular selections for wall finishes include painted black and white vertical stripes or custom damask velvet wallpaper which adds an elegant look to your powder room or accent wall in a room you want to dress up; add a decorative chandelier with dangling crystals for the final touch!

If you have decorative columns lining your foyer or dining room, you could incorporate this style to highlight these areas within your home by dressing up white columns with capitals or painting columns solid black.

Another great way to show off this combination is on the exterior of the home.Using a white wood mold brick with black trim and black gutters makes for a clean and classic look. Or design your pergola to feature a black stained wood and vintage strand lights.Elle Décor and theSpruce.com are a few of the interior design sites you can see some of these classic black and white combinations.

It seems as though our pets have increasingly become more a part of our life than ever before. Years ago many families had their little furry friends, but didn’t seem to engage as much as many of us do these days. We buy clothes for them, we try to make sure we give them the best food, designer food bowls, and even include them in family portraits sometimes.

With this new found love of pets, many have also started thinking about everyday solutions that make this relationship a little more convenient, and a lot less work. A home is a sanctuary for us, and for our pets. We are moving more and more toward practical ways to make the everyday routine a little more fun, and enjoyable. This includes cat walks, integrated wall aquariums, moisture balanced herpetariums, etc.

Among all of the new found inclusions being added to our homes, there are many items we can implement into construction and design that will offer benefits for years to come. One thing we recommend for people with k9 friends would be a pet wash station. This may sound like a complicated feature, but it may just consist of a hot and cold exterior hose bib, and a gravel bed or concrete pad so the wash spot doesn’t get muddy.

Dog and cat doors are also becoming more popular these days.This gives our friends a way to go out to stretch their legs, or take a bathroom break without the necessary human assistant.These doors have been improved greatly over the last few years, and come in many sizes, with many features to choose from. During construction of your new home you may also decide to strategically place interior doors so different zones of the home can be closed off to your pet.

For the cat loving family, it has become more popular to include a proper cat habitat when building your new home.This could include real catwalks high on the walls, or even on plant ledges, so that our feline friends can navigate from room to room at a higher elevation, while avoiding any ground situations with any other pets that may be in the house. The catwalks can lead to a concealed litter box, using void areas below the stairs, or maybe even on an attic wall. This helps hide the litter box, while keeping it fully accessible by our cats. A simple inclusion that all cats love are window seats, allowing them to lay at the window sill and look out over the property, while in the interior safety of the home.

One of the more extravagant construction considerations regarding pets has to be a moisture balanced and separate heating zone used as a herpetarium. This type of area is usually the size of a closet, and may include a glass door, and additional interior window for easy viewing of the reptile living within. These rooms not only stay at the proper humidity, they also include heat lighting, and misters to add comfort to the scaly inhabitants.

In short, the day of the turtle box and dog pen may be numbered, as new ideas flow into the construction stages of our new homes. With smart wired doggie areas, automatic gates, auto feeders and fresh water stations our life is becoming easier, so the time we have with our pets may become more enjoyable.

As you plan your custom home, consider what options you may want to include for your pets and visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com to learn more about these special areas within your home design.

Designing your custom home can be a fun experience, yes there are many things you will consider and reconsider, especially when it comes to making sure everything you want to have within your home can fit into your budget, but you are sure to enjoy the process. When you consider the options available don’t forget to overlook the outdoor living spaces of your home. We live and enjoy the inside of our homes on a daily basis, but what about the outside areas we occasionally enjoy throughout the year?

Think about all of the possibilities when it comes to creating outdoor play areas for both the young and young at heart! Most every child dreams of having a tree house or play house where they can let their imagination run wild and enjoy being a kid. Tree houses can be as custom as you want them, possibly adding a rock wall entrance and a zip-line exit or transfer from multiple tree houses or play areas for kids.

A pool is still a classic outdoor fun area bringing much enjoyment to all ages for many years, but think about your pool parties, who will be there, and what will the kids, who may not swim, do to entertain themselves? Why not consider creating a shaded play area with horseshoes and rope or tire swings and adjacent to this area you may develop a sand filled volleyball court.

Tennis and basketball are also fun outdoor play areas and while many people don’t consider adding these full size courts to their outdoor play areas, you have several options to create a fun miniature version, which allows for both sports to be enjoyed on the same court.

For younger children you can’t go wrong with swings, slides and customized playground equipment.To encourage family style fun interaction consider options like a miniature golf area, a Frisbee golf course, archery trail or soccer goals for those who love to get out and kick the ball around.

Obviously the size of your lot or land is going to determine the amount of outdoor play area you can incorporate within your overall home plan.Adults and children alike will love spending more time outdoors engaging in activities they can do together and create lasting memories for many years to come.

While planning your home, make sure to explore all of the opportunities for outdoor play areas for all ages and create an outdoor living space people will be talking about!

To learn more about your custom home and how you can incorporate a fun outdoor play area and outdoor living space visit us at AmericasHomePlace.com